Gunsmithing Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

[LRI]

Chris, got your stuff. Waiting on some epoxy to cure so I'll knock out your stuff.


Breakin the old barrel loose:

After she pops I get out the "pussy wrench" to keep from chewing my hands up on the receiver. Even loose the factory Remmy barrels are pretty snug due to all the gunk the put on em when they assemble:

Barrels off and now we gut this biche:

To the mill!

Timing up the raceways so our recoil lug isn't cockeyed:

Now the "kinky" part. Getting this bugger to point straight up. First we pick a mandrel. Remmy's tend to run about .701-703 according to my numbers. I have mandrels from .700 to .711. Notice the various plug gauges for the threads. Even have them for 6-48's and 8-40's now!

She's leaning towards us in Y so we'll adjust till it runs straight up.

That's better.

Tool package is loaded, offsets are entered, and its time to make some itty bitty chips. This is the initial "piss cut" just to see how goofy things are. Notice the black ring on the R/H side. Have to go -.003 more for .005 total.

One tool, three features machined. Receiver face, bore minor ID, and the lug abutments. One tool means very little chance of the lug abutment/receiver ring distance being goofed. Still 1.150" like the factory.

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Oh this is going to be good! I am looking very forward to the results!!!!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Makin the new wrinkles inside:

We gotz wrinkles:

Now onto gauging. A GO plug gauge should run all the way to the bottom of the effective thread depth. I was always taught the NO GO is allowed up to 1.5 rotations before locking up. Anything beyond that means it's out of spec. lets see where we end up. All my threads are 1.085/16 for M700's.

As we see in this first photo, the "GO" is at 12 on the clock. This is where NO GO side of the gauge begins to bite the first thread.

Were stuck at just under half a rotation. That'll work!

Now we truncate the lead thread and drill some holes for the lug.

And were done, me likey.

Had to use the flash to see down to the lug abutments. Nice finish.

Onto lapping and barreling. Got the turning center warming up as we speak.

Later!

C

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

lugs are lapped. Took longer to clean the gunk out after than to do it.

Great contact on all four sides. This is a biche photo to take for me. Getting enough light down the hole using this macro lens sucks! Will have to practice. . .

Onto barreling!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Tennon is done. chambering now.

Thread fit is pretty sexy!

C.

 

[SScott]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Wow,
Looking at the time stamps, your gonna have it completed in record time.
It really shows the benefits of owning high dollar equipment, looks great.
SScott

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

I think this thread needs more photos??????????

 

[Turk]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Pretty kool watching your rifle getting built on the net!

 

[Immorteq]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Really dig yer threads! My kinda gun porn.

 

[Kitsap]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Chad,

Always an education! Thanks for taking the time to show how it is done right

 

[SDLAW]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Chad,
What's the big honkin tube welded to the barrel vise stand all about?

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

The collet vise for the mill or the socket on the top of the vise?

 

[terrygood]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

What the hell? More pics? I love these threads.

 

[JCH]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

I love seeing behind the scenes. Nice thread.

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Oky doky. Back at it this morning.

I was hoping to complete it last night but my GF's daughter wasn't feeling too good so I went home early.

Type 1 diabetes at 12 must really suck ass. Poor kid.

Here we go. Pics in a minute. Time to knock out a brake for this pig.

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Blank for the brake is done. Just finished writing code for the threaded muzzle/crown.

Setting up now.

Lookin good so far. Pics in a sec.

 

[Munimula]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

awesome work as usual Mr. Dixon.

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Here's the back end of the brake. Went with 7/8-24 threads since the contour on the stick is so big. Little chance of this bugger bellmouthing over time due to a thin wall between bore/thead root.

Looks pretty nice. Counterbore is so the last thread on the muzzle has room for retraction. Don't have to undercut it this way. (hate that!)

We'll contour and port it after she's fitted to the barrel.

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

"Mr." is a stretch.

Chad works fine.

Various names I had from when I was in the Corps:

Dickskin
Needle dick
Dixie
Dickhead

And a half dozen more that escape my mind at the moment. Skin got thick a loooooong time ago.

Thanks for the kind words guys.

C

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

You need to do some videos Chad!

With all the machinery, how long does it take you to true a action and chamber a barrel?

 

[Munimula]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

if your military. Dixon should be fine then. I'm Ex-military myself.

But you are far more knowledgeable then me in several fields I'm training in. I've got 3 more months on the manual machines before I get to start playing with the CNC coding.

You cut your own breaks? I was thinking of trying that at school as an extra little project as it's not "gun like" in appearance.

 

[oregon]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Chad, thank you for sharing. Am with Bacarrat we want video.

You can get a small easy to use HD video recorder and also decent video editing software as very inexpensive now.

Will work fast enough you can focus on guns as you show off - think of it as advertising. A picture is worth a 1000 words, video is 30 to 60 frames per second.

Glad to help you make it happen. P.S. thank you for that Ken Block link as love how he abuses cars.

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Video will come with time. I have one in particular that was conceived this morning in fact that will be coming along before too long. Soon as it warms up and the participants have a spare moment.

The props/actors:

Twin engine Cessna, a sniper rifle, a cop, a funeral home director, myself, the police shooting complex, and SD landscape.

Sounds like a script for a really bad prison porno. . .

Barrel is threaded and crowned now. I have a mill op to do on the brake yet, then I can profile and plug the holes in her.

Gettin there!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Here's one I snapped while chambering.

Here's the brake blank after final contouring. Almost like the barrel was never touched. Taper Matched up with the barrel pretty well.

Cool stuff.

Now off to the mill to poke some holes, then we engrave, polish, blast finish, and she's all done.

Gettin there. Hope to ship by today.

C.

 

[oregon]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Hate it when tools break, but is part of the deal sometimes.

As to the video plot - possibly consider adding:

bush plane swoops in on tundra tires, skis, or floats with a hot young nurse to assist with a chef.

Can shoot it with this hd camera:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470615

And edit into pro results with this FREE software:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470599

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: oregon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hate it when tools break, but is part of the deal sometimes.

As to the video plot - possibly consider adding:

bush plane swoops in on tundra tires, skis, or floats with a hot young nurse to assist with a chef.

Can shoot it with this hd camera:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470615

And edit into pro results with this FREE software:

http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2470599
</div></div>

<span style="color: #000099"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">Here's one I snapped while chambering</span></span></span>

I meant with the camera!! lol! Not the reamer! Christ, I'd go out and suck start a Glock if I did that!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Here's a few more. Winding this down now. Kalli brought lunch so I stuffed my cake hole. Got one side of the holes done.

Notice the rake? Never seen a brake like this so I figured what the hell, can't hurt right?

I got creative with the steady rest and jacked the action side up about 4*. (I'm guessing, I just kept dickering with it till It looked right)

This should take some of the snort out of the recoil hopefully. Granted, it's only a 308, but who cares. Recoil is recoil.

On a funny note I'd given the barrel a quick kiss with some emery while I had it in lathe. I couldn't find the seam which irked me cause I'd forgotten exactly how long the brake blank was. After some thought it occurred to me to stick a torch on the brake. This got the grease warmed up enough on the threads to wick out of the seam. FOUND IT!

Going well. Now onto the left bank holes.

It's a werkin!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Well the good news.

Barrel and brake is all done. Just smoked one outside into the dirt and she ran good. Brass looks real nice. Primer is centered up real well, finish is good (no frost) and no muffin tops around the web.

The brake sure seems to work ok. It barks, my ears are ringin a bit. (was too lazy to grab the muffs) This is/was a brand new piece of Lap poo poo.

Anyways, onto some bolt flutin, a trip to the bead blaster, and this bugger is done!

 

[mdesign]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Interesting thread here Chad.

 

[Bluejazz]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

I have followed many of Chad's threads, and am ALWAYS impressed by his workmanship and skill. I talked with him about a build a couple of years ago, but realized I could not afford it at the time, but need to take some serious steps to make it happen.
Bluejazz, AKA James Hurst

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Don't forget the bolt handle!!!!

 

[jetmd]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Cool stuff as always. As said before, Thank-you for the enjoyable threads (sum pun intended)

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

How is this little piggie shaping up?

 

[Dr. Vette]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great contact on all four sides. This is a biche photo to take for me. Getting enough light down the hole using this macro lens sucks! Will have to practice. . .
</div></div>

Ever think about getting a ring flash?

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Chef jones</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How is this little piggie shaping up?</div></div>

Chef,

I saw this "little piggy" last night and you got yourself a piece of art headed your way soon bro. I personally felt the fit of the brake to the barrel and the barrel to the action and man it is about as good as it gets. No slop that can be felt by hand and barely a reading with a gauge and yet smooth as butter. Should be a real shooter!

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr. Vette</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Great contact on all four sides. This is a biche photo to take for me. Getting enough light down the hole using this macro lens sucks! Will have to practice. . .
</div></div>

Ever think about getting a ring flash?

</div></div>


I'll never make the claim of being a great photographer. What's a ring flash?

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

They are used for fashion photography, I use one for food photography. It spreads the light out nice and evenly and that way you don't get "Hot Spots" from the flash...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_flash

 

[AXEMAN]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

when you look in a models eyes and see a round circle, its a ringflash. mounts to the lens and is great for macro. with LEDs there are bunches of options

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Brass looks real nice.</div></div>

Mr. Dixon,

How do you deal with a chamber that is the same size as the reamer but the brass shows signs of expansion just in front of the web?

This would look in a picture the same as if the chamber was over sized, but if the chamber matches the reamer???

Both my .30-06 and .308 that I built at school exhibit this very effect?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Try switching your brass.

Winchester stuff is renowned for this. (being undersize)

Try a different brand and see if it goes away.

If not, the either your tool is big (reamer) or it ran cockeyed and wallered the chamber.



Next subject:

Chris, I'm running your bolt knob as we speak. Sidetracked at the moment as I'm tired of fiddling with external coolant lines on my micro boring bars. I'm routing everything internally through the tool base now. Creative use of a drill and silver solder should make this much better.

Soon as I get it working I'll be able to thread the bore.

Looking good. PTG bolt headspaced perfect and lapped right in.

GTG!

C.

 

[Chefcbjones]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Oh good....... I thought I was more patient than I guess I really am..... Can't wait to see the end result of all your hard work!!!

 

[Dr. Vette]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Others described it already, here's a picture:

 

[LRI]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

Well I guess it shoots well.

Received this email:
<span style="font-style: italic">
Chad

I shot today for the first time 9 shot group 200yds with a 13mph crosswind. GREAT work my friend I plan on doing a dull review on the hide..</span>

 

[John L]

Re: Chris J. 308 action tune/barrel job

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: C. Dixon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Video will come with time. I have one in particular that was conceived this morning in fact that will be coming along before too long. Soon as it warms up and the participants have a spare moment.

The props/actors:

Twin engine Cessna, a sniper rifle, a cop, a funeral home director, myself, the police shooting complex, and SD landscape.

Sounds like a script for a really bad prison porno. . .

Barrel is threaded and crowned now. I have a mill op to do on the brake yet, then I can profile and plug the holes in her.

Gettin there! </div></div>

Humm, I wonder who the "funeral director" could be?